Any good experiences traveling solo?

There's tons of discussion about solo travel (mostly all positive experiences) here in the helpline:
http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=13929
http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=12233
http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=10868

hundreds of results with people supporting solo travel, that's just a very small sampling. Search for solo travel and other such terms in the top right corner, and also a section of the Graffiti wall about it.as for me, I'm an only child, so kinda used to doing stuff alone. The first dinner I ate out was a little weird b/c my friend was with me for the first half of a long trip and then went home, but after that I didn't even think about it and just enjoyed the freedom. In fact I feel so strongly about it I blogged about it after I came home.I much preferred my time alone. But that's just me :) And I actually liked getting lost, made me really learn my way around each place I went. I guess if you're really bad at maps, maybe that's not so good but I kinda enjoyed just wandering and pulling out the map once it was time to actually gt somewhere specific. I had great conversations with both locals and other American travelers at almost every meal, mostly in Italy but other places too. Meeting locals is definitely a great part of traveling alone I think - when you don't have someone else to talk to you kinda have to talk to the people around you. For me the biggest con of traveling alone is the expense, because it can be cheap to split accommodation and meals (and when there are more people you can split meals and try more stuff too). But the positives outweigh the negatives by far for me.

I find people to do things with.

I find walking tours or locally guided tours that last a few hours are good ways of meeting other single travelers.

Id like to know as well. No one posts anything new lately on the Solo travel graffiti wall.

I am the type of person that generally talks to anyone, so I would presume that when I go to London for a week in December, I would make some acquaintances. The problem is though, That I hear Londoners dont talk to strangers, so its a bit of a catch 22. The irony being, the only people I may befriend would be other Americans...

I have traveled twice to Europe on my own, with my last trip being this summer for 2 months. I always find the first day kinda rough, I get jet leg pretty bad so I am always questioning myself that first day, but once I get going I love it. I love the freedom of going where I want and when and not having to worry about other people. I meet tons of great people at hostels, its not hard just sharing my travel experiences is a good opener! I carry my ipod with tons of my favorite movies and tv shows so if I am homesick I have something familiar. I also try and keep in touch with lots of e-mail and of course I get phone cards to call home often.

My first trip was alot rougher than my second homesick wise, but now I feel like a pro, I think if you have trouble being alone while at home, like you can't go to dinner or a movie on your own, than you are not ready to travel on your own. I also pre-book as much as possible, and do as much research as humanly possible so I feel like I have some grasp of the cities I will be visiting.

One of my favorite travel experiences this summer was meeting a very nice couple in Prague at my hostel, we spent a long night chatting and did some sightseeing. We both went on our ways until one week later I was strolling through Gimmelwald and heard them shout out my name, so the world is alot smaller than we think... lol

Tami don't forget us Canadians either, we may say eh alot but we make great travelers to chat to...lol

Tami, if you're going to London, I'd definitely look into London Walks.

Their tours are excellent, lots of variety, great guides, and I've met other single travelers on just about every one. Some I've gotten a drink with, a meal, and even spent the day visiting sites the other had planned to see as well.

I remember taking one pub crawl and a local brit took it as well. A small group of us hung out at a hotel bar after the walk and heard lots about living in the suburbs of London.

When you're traveling by yourself, there's nothing wrong with meeting other tourists. You don't have to limit yourself to locals.

If in a non-english speaking country, I'll seek out the main English language bookstores. Quite often it's ex-pats (from an English speaking country) who work there and will fill you in on a lot of stuff.

I've traveled solo to Europe twice, the last time a year ago for over a month in France. I joined a RS tour at the beginning, and found that a great way to get acclimated, with all the travel arranged for me.

For me, because of how conditioned we are to think of eating out with at least one other, and not being much of a "foodie" anyway, I found I prefered to catch the tail end of lunch. It was cheaper, and I would eat a big (for me) meal, and it felt less awkward reading my guidebook pages or writing notes, etc, than doing that at dinner. It was also a nice break for an hour or so, for my tired- out feet.

Later, early evening, I would just grab a panini or yogurt from a store, skipping a formal dinner and keep strolling/touring. I tended to go to bed early and be up really early to get a start on all I wanted to do!

I find an english speaking country a bit less lonley I enjoy theatre so London is never lonely

I've been traveling solo for several years, and so far I prefer that method (although it does have drawbacks). I really enjoy having the freedom to choose what I'm going to do or see each day, and probably wouldn't enjoy "travel by consensus" as much. I often observe situations with other travellers (and the difficulties they have), which reinforces my attittudes on the subject.

I don't find arrival day to be much of a problem. I sometimes like to have a short nap just to take the edge of jet lag. It doesn't usually take me more than a day or so to get up to "touring speed".

I also travel with a very precise Itinerary, however the only parts that I follow closely are the transportation and lodgings. While I have a list of sights that I want to see in each city, I treat this more as a "guideline" and just see whatever interests me at the time. If someone else recommends a particular site, I'll often change my plans to include that if it sounds interesting.

Meals aren't too much of a problem, as I use that time to just "watch the procession" around me, visit with other travellers (there's ALWAYS someone with a RS Guidebook at the next table!) or just review my day and make plans for the next day.

I tend to mix lodgings between budget Hotels and Hostels, as that provides a nice blend. It's nice to have other people around at times, but it's also nice to have some privacy once in a while.

I find that traveling solo, I tend to be more outgoing and will initiate conversations more readily either with "locals" or other travelers. I will sometimes day-tour with other travelers, but find this a bit awkward at times as I like to take lots of photos and the others usually don't have the patience to wait for me. Also, if I find something that really interests me, I'll want to stop and watch for a while. If the others aren't interested, that's when we part company!

The biggest problem with solo travel is not having someone to share the memories with.

Travelling solo gives far more opportunity to chat with the locals and practice your 'other' language. Possibly because I can talk the leg off the proverbial iron pot, I have never had a problem with spending a little or even more time - at hotel breakfasts, out and about, waitng for and travelling on transport, with either locals or travellers from around the globe. I NEVER feel homesick. Of course I will think of family/friends and how much they might enjoy what I am doing, but missing them? No. And they look forward to travel tales when I return, so much so that a friend has invited herself on my trip next year. Hmmmm. Some adjustments to make.

I went to England last march on the spur of the moment, alone. I needed to get away due to major stress. Had an unreal time. One night im in a pub near my hotel.Its very crowded and Im at a table alone. 2 truly gorgeous women, english of course, asked could they share the table. Ended up having an fantastice time with them, one of theirs boyfriend and a guy who worked security for the Jerry Springer show. Literally ended up drinking tequille all nigh at their hotel bar.
Another night in Stowe on the Wold, ended up with a group of locals drinking partying after the pub had closed. They took a liking to me and they were blasting Beach Boy music while the owners son and I were surfing on the tables.
I will never forget that night,ever!

Thanks for all the great stories.
I am planning 4 weeks in France and Belgium.
8 days will be a bike tour of Provencs, solo of course.
I have done solo bike tours before in Austria. They are great for meeting like minded people. At one of the guest houses I was invited by the family to watch the World Cup in their TV room. They did not speak English but that was ok. They brought out some strong liquor and we had a pleasent evening.

The bike and lodgings are set up from a Bike tour Company in the USA. They just move your luggage to your various guest houses and you just ride.
I am taking a few weeks extra to travel by train.
Like I said getting proper sleep really helps with your sense of well being.

I have taken overnight trains in the past and never slept good which made my next day not so upbeat.

Hostels sometimes have their drawbacks like privacy but they are one of the better ways to meet an interesting group of people. I don't fall into the youth catagory anymore but young peole are very friendly.
I really try to book my Hostels from this side as I don't need the added stress to find a place to stay. I seen so many people get turned away from hostels late in the evenings becasue they are full. summer in Europe is not that easy to find places to stay.

Thanks Frank, I may do that. I thought about doing a few self tours, but it would be nice to have a temporary "Friend" to look at sites with, have lunch with, get new ideas from, and maybe get pics of myself in front of buildings, etc..instead of having to ask "strangers" to take one for me.

Tami, asking a stranger to take your photo can often lead into a chat, and even time together at some point. In my case, lunch together in Agrigento, or a morning at Segesta.

Yea Pat, normally I dont mind that, i am the type that talks to anyone! Yea, I am the lady behind you in the grocery store checkout line commenting on your shoes. but I keep hearing about how Londoners dont like strangers talking to them. I dont want to freak anyone out. Like Who the heck is this american person bugging me?

My husband is british and says people just "keep to their own" when out and about. Then again, he is from Lancashire, where people might be trying to mug you....LOL...

Too many to list!!! I'm like Pat, I will talk to just about anyone, I don't have to "push" myself to meet others. The reality is you can only be yourself, and you are not in charge of what other people think or feel. I had about 10 days with others (in a class, not touring),but,I loved my 2 weeks traveling alone--I met people from all over the world by interacting with them, asking questions, looking at their food, asking what wine did they order, was it good, where's this...? My all time favorite--Do you know where you are? and can you show me on my map? It's amazing how we are able to communicate without speaking the same language. I used the first day in each new location to get the lay of the land. Just walking around, getting lost and then found, I didn't make any scheduled plans for that first day in any location--more relaxing, and I think, makes being "tired and a little lost" okay, and an expected part of the experience.

One of my favorite "alone" trips was spent in a small Swiss village, Pontresina. I stayed two weeks in the same hotel and most days I packed a picnic in my daypack and set out on a hiking trail. Each day was different, one day mountain, another meadow, then glacier. The trails were well-marked and if I got tired I could take the train back to town. I had a Swiss rail pass so on the days I didn't hike, I hopped on the train and explored other villages in the region. I took books to read and stocked up on chocolate. My photos of the many people that I met along the way are great reminders of the excellent adventure that I had on that trip--I learned a lot about myself from spending time mostly with just me.

I've had great experiences.

I went solo to Octoberfest. An Irish barmaid found me a seat, then brought a group of Kiwis (she said, "Here's some other Americans."). We had a great time and met a lot of German people around our table. When they closed the tent down we all took a train to a night club the Germans knew.

In Limerick, I wandered looking for some traditional music. I ended up in an IRA bar discussing the (at the time) recent peace plan with an IRA brigade commander over a pint.

In Dublin, I went alone to the Temple Bar area. I was disappointed and started to head back to my hotel early. I hadn't gone a block when two gentleman struck up a conversation and paraded me through a string of small pubs "on the way" back to my hotel.

In York, I ducked out of the rain into a restaurant. As I entered the door a group of four couples in formal wear asked if it was raining. They asked me to join them and we talked about the big annual horse races (why they were dressed up). I told them I was surprised how friendly they were because English people sometimes have a reputation for being snooty. Their response, "Oh that's Leeds."

Most of my eating is out of grocery stores or food stands when I'm solo. One time in a cafe on the Rhine, I noticed a group of Americans having trouble ordering ("How do you say Beer in German?"). It was off season, the owners were older and didn't speak much English so I offered to help. They asked me to join them. They were from my home state. We had a nice conversation before saying good night.

At the train station in Hamburg. I noticed an older couple having trouble asking directions. They had a heavy Houston accent and I wasn't sure if the person didn't speak English or didn't understand their accent. I asked their question in German, turned around and told them in English. The man said, "Look Ma, he speaks English just as good as an American."

I was in Darwin, Australia with a couple of US Air Force crews. Most went to the casino but I went in search of music. I met four Australian Rules Football players who were in town for a tournament and spent the evening visiting different nightclubs with them and met hundreds of locals and other football players.

The next day I was walking through downtown with one of the other Air Force officers. As we walked, we kept running into people I had met the night before ("G'day Brad, how are you?"). The other officer commented, "If you were here for a week you could get elected Mayor."

Overall, I have a great time traveling solo. I also have a great time traveling with friends or family. The one big difference is, when traveling with a group, I have to play the role of guide. I have to make sure everyone is comfortable, well-fed, entertained and happy. That responsibility adds a level of stress to my trip. I guess I'm not as concerned whether I'm comfortable, well-fed, entertained and happy.

I had a similar situation to Brad's but in Paris instead of Hamburg.

I returned to my hotel only to be asked by the desk clerk to help a couple find their way to Louvre. They were from Texas and didn't understand one word of French. The desk clerk spoke little and very heavy accented English.

I got a map and showed the couple how to go. They said, "You know, we couldn't understand one word that guy said, but we understood everything you said."

"I hope you would, " I said, "I'm an American."

The couple looked at each other and then looked at me before the wife said, "But you spoke French."

I next tried to explain the metro to them but they thought it was all too confusing and preferred to walk.

So many people can't believe that anyone would enjoy solo travel. I can't single out one good experience since they've all been good. Traveling by train from London to Edinburgh and just sitting quietly and enjoying the scenery was great. The London theater is another great experience alone as is the British Library - staring at the Magna Carta for 10 minutes and knowing I could was great. I was sick for my entire trip to Benelux last year. Even that was okay since I didn't have to worry about inconveniencing anyone else and could go..or not.. as I felt like it. I take a book to dinner to read if it's convenient. Sit on a bench and people watch. Talk to the people at your hotel. You'll get good tips as well as friendly conversation. Talk to shopkeepers. If you show real interest in what they are selling they're pleased to share their knowledge. Most of all, remember you're not alone. You just aren't traveling with anyone!

Brad, our footballers play matches, not tournaments. Did you watch a game? Personally, I would rather clean the oven than watch. (Is that un-Australian?)

Teena,

Your experiences sound very similar to mine. Many people just can't comprehend that one would actually choose to travel solo. I've had to endure many comments not only from family and friends, but also some people involved in the travel industry.

I've been asked on more than one occasion "do you always travel alone"? When I answer "yes, lately I have been", they tend to walk away with a puzzled look on their face, without saying anything more. I often wonder what they're thinking?

Now that my Sons are grown and living their own lives, I'm on my own at the moment so the choice seems very logical - either travel solo or stay home. I want to see and experience Europe while I'm still in reasonably good health, so I'm not going to let my situation hold me back.

One other important point about my travel, is similar to your comment about looking at the Magna Carta. I like to poke around and explore places and take lots of photos, and kind of keep to my own schedule. It would annoy me greatly to have someone telling me that I can't do that because it's an inconvenience to them. I also like to visit military history sites and I doubt if too many others would be comfortable with (for example) spending a whole day at a Regimental Museum talking to veterans, the staff and other visitors.

One thing I've enjoyed about my trips so far is the wonderful sense of freedom! I can wake up when I want, eat when I feel hungry, visit whatever looks interesting that day, spend as much time as I want chatting with others and go to sleep when I feel tired.

I should add however, that I've changed my travel method a bit recently and I'm now using a blend of solo travel and RS tours of about equal duration. So far this has been a perfect combination! This seems to provide the best of both worlds. The people I've encountered on the tours have been wonderful and very easy to travel with, and I still get time on my own.

Ken, as a female, I have been asked on several occasions, how my husband gave me permission to travel without him. BH!!!

Pat,

It was multiple teams playing a tournament with multiple matches in Darwin. That was when I learned that the games I had seen on TV and knew as Australian rules football were pretty much confined to Victoria (I don't know if the teams in Darwin were all from Victoria, but they were all, or mostly, from out of town).

On a later trip to Sydney, I discovered there are two types of Rugby, league and union, and learned the rules and object of Cricket. I also had a chance to surf in Australia which was a lifelong dream of a kid from San Diego.

Brad, the Australian Football League was originally based in Victoria, then know as the VFL. In the interests of expanding (more $$$) it has since extended to teams in S.A., W.A., N.S.W. and Q.L.D. You have obviously seen several areas of Australia - try Tasmania next. Lonely Planet have nominated Wine Glass Bay as the 'top location for 2009'- check it out on Google Earth. Tassie is gorgeous - come on down. For all of you Northeners, the exchange rate is in your favour. PP

Pat,

In Sydney, I visited some RAAF friends of mine. The second day there, one flew to Tasmania and asked if I wanted to go along (they flew C-130's, plenty of room for passengers). It was my first trip to Sydney so I didn't go. It's definitely a place I want to visit.

I started travelling solo just last year because I can't find people to be able to travel for more than an week, or they don't have the desire to do travel at all.
However, the only problem I had was in the evening when I didn't have much to do and I had to got back to my hostel. I don't like to go in a bar by myself, but I don't mind walking around by myself.I asked many times if I am afraid to travel alone, and of course I said NO, NO. I still wonder why some women are afraid to travel alone.
However, majority of the people I came across in hostels weren't by themselves.Some of them were with thier parents, some of them in a small group.

My first trip to Europe was alone, and for 5 1/2 weeks.

It was an extremely great experience learning to rely on myself for everything for that long amount of time. I have since been back to Europe (with three friends) and I can say for a fact that none of the three friends I was with would have been as confident going it alone as I had been, so I think it can really depend on the person. They were really shy about asking for help and trying to interact with people, which I think really hurts the experience.

However, traveling alone (and for more than a month) really did have its down points. I found that there were many times that I wished there was someone there to share the time with me. I would meet and make friends with many people at hostels, but it just isn't the same as being with someone that you know well and who knows you. After about 4 weeks, I was simply exhausted, and got sick for a couple days, that was a really bummer to be throwing up in the middle or Romania alone.

So, I thought that going with friends was the answer, not so fast! It was also nice to have people along to share the experiences with, but after a few days, I became irritated with the people I was traveling with. I think, honestly, the worst part was compromising on restaurants to eat at, so trivial!

As has been previously mentioned, the first day in Europe can be really rough. When I was alone, I remember standing in line for the Eiffel Tower around 4 pm trying to keep my eyes open - not fun! The second trip (with friends) was much easier - we all kept prodding each other to stay up, and there was a sort of collective excitement between the four of us.

I have come to decide that the best way to see Europe would be with a significant other, but I guess I'll have to wait to find one first, huh?

Geoff